Exam #1 Psych 202 ch. 1,2,3

professional organization representing psychologists in the United States

focus on observing and controlling behavior

study of how biology influences behavior

perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual’s health

area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior

study of cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to experiences and actions

area of psychology that focuses on improving emotional, social, vocational, and other aspects of the lives of psychologically healthy individuals

scientific study of development across a lifespan

long research paper about research that was conducted as part of the candidate’s doctoral training

method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities

area of psychology that applies the science and practice of psychology to issues within and related to the justice system

focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment

perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans

process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an attempt to break it into its component parts

suffix that denotes “scientific study of”

study of patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make each individual unique

(doctor of philosophy) doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspectives housed in a traditional college of liberal arts and sciences

allows young scientists to further develop their research programs and broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field

Greek word for soul

focus on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior

scientific study of the mind and behavior

(doctor of psychology) doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research oriented skills and focuses more on application of psychological principles in the clinical context

area of psychology that focuses on the interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical performance in sports, exercise, and other activities

understanding the unconscious experience through introspection

reduction in number of research participants as some drop out of the study over time

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable. can be determined only through an experimental research design

observational research study focusing on one or a few people

tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs

unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest, often giving the false impression that changes in one variable causes changes in the other, when actually the outside factor causes changes in both variables

serves as a basis for comparison and controls for chance factors that might influence the results of the study - by holding such factors constant across groups so that the experimental manipulation is the only difference between groups

relationship between two or more variables. when two variables are correlated, one variable changes as the other does

number from -1 to +1 indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, and usually represented by r

compares multiple segments of a population at a single time

when an experiment involved deception, participants are told complete and truthful information about the experiment at its conclusion

purposely misleading experiment participants in order to maintain the integrity of the experiment

results are predicted based on a general premise

variable that the researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had - the measurable outcome

experiment in which both the researchers and the participants are blind to group assignments

grounded in objective, tangible evidence that can be observed time and time again, regardless of who is observing

group designed to answer the research question. experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, so any differences between the two are due to experimental manipulation rather than chance

researcher expectations skew the results of the study

objective and verifiable observation, established using evidence collected through empirical research

able to be disproven by experimental results

inferring that the results for a sample apply to the larger population

tentative and testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables

seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationship exists

variable that is influenced or controlled by the experimenter. in a sound experimental study, the independent variable is the only important difference between the experimental and control group

conclusions are drawn from observations

process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment, any risks involved, and the implications of the research, and the obtaining the person’s consent to participate

committee of administrators, scientists, veterinarians, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving non-human animals

committee of administrators, scientists, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving human participants

measure of agreement among observers on how they record and classify a particular event

studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time

observation of behavior in its natural setting

two variables change in different directions, with one becoming larger as the other becomes smaller, not the same as no correlation

when observations may be skewed to align with observer expectations

description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependent variables and manipulate the independent variables

personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate

subjects of psychological research

article read by several other scientists (usually anonymously) with expertise in the subject matter, who provide feedback regarding the quality of the manuscript before it is accepted for publication

people’s expectations or beliefs influencing or determining their experience in a given situation

overall group of individuals that the researchers are interested in

two variables change in the same direction, both becoming either larger or smaller

method of experimental group assignment in which all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group

subset of a larger population in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

consistency and reproducibility of a given result

repeating an experiment using different samples to determine the research’s reliability

subset of individuals selected form the larger population

experiment in which the researcher knows which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group, but participants do not

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determines how likely any difference between experimental groups is due to chance

list of questions to be answered by research participants - given as paper and pencil questioners, administered electronically, or conducted verbally - allowing researchers to collect data from a large number of people

well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena

accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure

method of research using past records or data sets to answer various research questions, or to search for interesting patterns or relationships

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation

specific version of a gene

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information

controls our internal organs and glands

major extension of the soma

view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

brain and spinal cord

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

long strand of genetic information

imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area

thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres

branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

disease related to insufficient insulin production

allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes

activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety